---
title: Whatever Happened to Tawes Theatre?
date: 2024-01-31T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/whatever-happened-to-tawes-theatre"
section: Articles
---
# Whatever Happened to Tawes Theatre?

*January 31, 2024* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> Behind the Curtain of the Onetime Home of UMD’s Performing Arts, Famous Acts and One Ghost Dog

*Tawes Theatre 1920x1080 — Tawes Hall was once Tawes Theatre, headquarters of the performing arts at UMD. It hosted musicals like "Little Shop of Horrors," an audition for which is shown below, concerts, talks with guests like Hunter S. Thompson (marquee shown below) and university events like the one with Sociology Professor John Pease, left.*

*This is the first in a new series called “Whatever Happened to …,” which will scope out the histories and fates of aspects of the UMD campus and experience that no longer exist. Have an idea for a subject? Email writer Sala Levin at* [*snlevin@umd.edu*](mailto:snlevin@umd.edu)*.*

Today, Tawes Hall is the bustling hub of the English and American Studies departments, but before that, it was an empty hull, the ghost mall of the University of Maryland. Before *that*, it was the Tawes Fine Arts Building, also known as Tawes Theatre, home to the performing arts departments and a stage that hosted plays, concerts, speaking engagements and even a presidential debate.

Whatever happened to Tawes Theatre? Here, Maryland Today goes behind the scenes for a look at the history—and eventual destiny—of a campus institution.

**Act I** The Tawes Fine Arts Building, opened in 1965, was named after J. Millard Tawes, governor of Maryland at the time. It was home to the theatre and music departments, and its theater could seat 1,350 people. “That was the main performing arts building on campus” before the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center opened in 2001, said Lori Owen, assistant dean for facilities and space planning for the College of Arts and Humanities, who has been with ARHU for 30 years.


*dancers on stage*


*Hunter S. Thompson leans on marquee*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Whatever Happened to](https://today.umd.edu/topic/whatever-happened-to)


**Units:** [Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center](https://today.umd.edu/topic/clarice-smith-performing-arts-center), [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities)